I worried about giving too much scratch before it got cold. Now I am happy to see that they are eating (whatever it is, it will help make calories to burn which is what they need in this weather. If someone seems to be not laying or getting fat, I will worry about that then. I have 13 counting my roo in the coop. They get scratch morning and night. Morning because I want them warm enough to get out and play a little bit. Evening, so everyone eats and his cozy warm in the hen house. I am throwing out about 3 cups each time. Some of it goes to the little birds that fly in and swoop it up. The layer mash is going down enough that I don't worry that they aren't getting enough of that. I also have an old sod couch and an old compost pile that they have been scratching and dust bathing in. There are plenty of worms in there to supplement their diet.
Ron. Congrats on all the eggs Woohoo! In answer to your questions,
I think she likely meant in 24 hours. And I don't think it will happen often, but I heard that Delawares can be very productive. As many as 320+ eggs a year if I remember right. The other thing is that even if you provide a nest each, often hens will choose to use the same one. So placement of the eggs doesn't mean anything. If you want to spread them out a little, you might try putting a golf ball in each nesting box.
My egg count today (14 days laying, by the way) 7 Brown and 1 Green. So I believe I have all but one hen laying at this point. Because I know that all of my EE's are laying, and I only have 8 brown egg layers. Yippee! By the way. I got two double yolkers again. 1 green and 1 brown. (None broken)
It is so cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am going to get one of those metal water heaters. Looks like the galvanized pan, only upside down. You put a metal water pan on it and it keeps it thawed.
Also going to keep one in the hen house. My goal is to have it warm enough in their that the water doesn't freeze. That is how I will know that I achieved my goal temp.
Ron. Congrats on all the eggs Woohoo! In answer to your questions,
I think she likely meant in 24 hours. And I don't think it will happen often, but I heard that Delawares can be very productive. As many as 320+ eggs a year if I remember right. The other thing is that even if you provide a nest each, often hens will choose to use the same one. So placement of the eggs doesn't mean anything. If you want to spread them out a little, you might try putting a golf ball in each nesting box.
My egg count today (14 days laying, by the way) 7 Brown and 1 Green. So I believe I have all but one hen laying at this point. Because I know that all of my EE's are laying, and I only have 8 brown egg layers. Yippee! By the way. I got two double yolkers again. 1 green and 1 brown. (None broken)
It is so cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am going to get one of those metal water heaters. Looks like the galvanized pan, only upside down. You put a metal water pan on it and it keeps it thawed.
Also going to keep one in the hen house. My goal is to have it warm enough in their that the water doesn't freeze. That is how I will know that I achieved my goal temp.
